Big joy in the form of colorful little desserts

By Nora Vasconcelos

Often when I’d had the chance to enjoy some delicious petit fours, I wondered how much time it would take to prepare them, and how complicated it’d be, but now, thanks to Brooks Coulson Nguyen, I’ve seen that it’s actually possible to prepare them at home!

In 2004, Coulson opened Dragonfly Cakes, a bakery in California, USA, and ever since she’s been creating new designs and flavor combinations. At the end of 2013, she published with Ulysses PressThe Petit Four Cookbook

“I have always loved baking and decided to make the jump in lifestyle so that I could incorporate my family into each piece of my life. Not all corporate jobs allow for the work-life balance I was looking for. I was on a business trip in New Orleans when I decided that I would send myself to pastry school,” tells me Brooks while talking about opening her own busines. “It is extremely challenging at times but it is very rewarding. It is fun to be able to use my creative side every day! I love owning my own business.”

In her book, Coulson explains in a very simple way, the steps that are needed to prepare these adorable bite-size delicacies, from the equipment (mixer, bowls, cookie sheets, cookie cutters, etc.) to the preparation, the assembly and the decoration of the little desserts.

“Petit fours take more time because each piece of cake needs to be cut into a precise shape before they are dipped into the coating,” explains Brooks, however, this task can be done over two days. And once the petit fours are complete, the satisfaction of seen them is well worth it.

Either if they’re prepared to surprise a family member, give them as presents for birthdays or special holidays or as a part of a celebration like a wedding or a baby shower, the petit fours turn the dessert time into a memorable experience.